973.7L63 
H2R492o 


Risdon,  F.  Ray 

Ode  to  Lincoln's 
Log  Cabin 


LINCOLN  ROOM 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
LIBRARY 

MEMORIAL 

the  class  of  1901 


founded  by 
HARLAN  HOYT  HORNER 
and 
HENRIETTA  CALHOUN  HORNER 


ODE  TO  LINCOLN'S  LOG  CABIN 

AND  OTHER  VERSE 
■23?  F.  Ray  Risdon 


One   of   God's   Noblest   Gentlemen- 
Jtmerica's  Qeutlest  D^oblemanl 


• 


ODE  TO 

LINCOLN'S  LOG  CABIN 

AND  OTHER  VERSE 


BY 

F.  Ray  Risdon 


GARDENA,  CALIFORNIA 

SPANISH  AMERICAN  INSTITUTE  PRESS 

19  2  4 


THIS  EDITION  LIMITED  TO 
ONE  HUNDRED  COPIES,  OF 
WHICH    THIS    IS    NUMBER 


£>o 


ODE  TO  LINCOLN'S  LOG  CABIN 


Lincoln's  Log  Cabin 

O^ow  enshrined  in  the  [Memorial  Hall 

dedicated  b\  "President  Woodrozc  Wilson 

in  September,  1916 


(LJQ 


lowly  hut  of  rough-hewn  logs; 
O  cabin-home  of  frontier  folk; 
O  birthplace  shrine — to  thee  we  pay 
Our  Nation's  debt  of  gratitude! 


Within  thy  walls  was  born  to  us, 
Five  score  and  seven  years  ago, 

That  lad,  who,  grown  to  man's  estate, 
Preserved  our  Union,  saved  our  land. 


[7 


As  President  and  patriot, 

He  freed  four  million  negro  slaves, 
And  gave  his  life — a  martyr's  gift — 

When  stricken  down  by  traitor's  hand. 

A  marble  hall  we've  built  for  thee, 

And  dedicated  thine  abode: 
Memorial  to  him  we  love, 

Whose  mansion  is  Eternity. 

Protected  now  from  storms  of  Time, 
Within  this  building  beautiful, 

Still  stand,  O  sacred  shrine,  and  speak 
To  generations  yet  unborn! 

May  thy  rude  frame  and  mem'ries  sweet 

Inspire  humanity,  and  tell 
Of  him,  —  a  product  of  our  soil, — 

Who  loved  mankind  and  liberty. 

And  may  this  "honored  dead"  still  live, 
While  ages  pass — as  even  now, — 

Enshrined  within  the  hearts  of  men: 
Our  greatest y  noblest  citizen. 


Los  vfngeleSy  California 
Sepember  1916 


[8] 


My  Service  Creed 

He  serves  God  best  who  serves  his  fellowmen- 

And  who  can  better  serve  than  he 
Who  loves  his  Lord  supremely, 
His  brother-man  sincerely, 
And  strives,  each  day, 
The  Christian  life  to  live? 

He  truly  lives  who  loves  and  serves. 


[9 


Abraham  Lincoln 
a   chronology 

In  a  log  cabin  lowly  born; 

Lawyer  true,  and  legislator; 
Lover  of  mankind,  patriot; 

Liberator,  statesman,  martyr. 


to] 


To  Mary   Mine 

The  meadow  has  its  clover-grass, 
Each  flower  has  its  bee; 

Each  worthy  lad  his  lovely  lass, 
And  I — rich  man! — have  thee 


11 


Heart's  Desire 

O  for  a  spot  where  flowers  bloom, 

A  place  where  trees  and  mountains  loom: 

The  home  of  folk  and  God  above — 
There  let  me  live,  and  work,  and  love  I 


I  12  I 


Just  Beyond 

Beyond  the  hills  which  crown  the  slope, 
The  friendly  mountains  lie; 

Their  rugged  peaks  of  purple-gray 
Outlined  against  the  sky. 

Behind  the  clouds  which  dim  our  sun, 
That  glowing  orb  still  shines; 

While,  lighting  up  the  crystal  pools, 
The  rainbow  tops  the  pines. 

Beyond  the  frontiers  of  our  world, 

A  better  Land,  and  fair, 
Invites  and  calls  and  welcomes  all — 

Our  Homeland,  Over  There. 


[13 


The  Upward  Climb 

The  traveled  road  of  yesterday 

Behind  my  back  doth  lie: 
To-day's  rough  path  ahead  doth  stretch, 

And  I  must  climb — or  die. 


14 


n-i  k< 

*!  M> 

oo 

cvj 

jiji- 

plN**.£i 

P^ 

/v 

!(Q 

^ 


ai 


ss 

1* 

<d  a 

*>  o 

O    CD 

*ji 

•  o  o 

S   ^  -H 

£ 

•    •  o 

W   CO 

h-si 

SB  to»<i; 


w 

p 

> 

H 

fc 

O 

■^ 

CD 

Q 

0 

£ 

- 

i 

2 

■ 

CN       « 

CD 

3   * 
^    a 

3       3 

s  * 

Cm 


£  S  2  o  -o 
2   S   o  |   3 

-o  .2  •  ■£  s 
S-g|  5  S 

c    *    2  —  o 

2  •  Q 

«.    -    a  P 

•     O     *•  m 

2   «   c  j= 

•  si-*! 
"Si1"5* 


te-i    » 


211 


E    u 


.'    &-i  _   -hr. 


*#frO.-   I  oo  **!*** 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


3  0112  002242433 


